Adjustable magnetic supercutaneous device and transcutaneous coupling apparatus

Abstract

An externally worn body device adapted to be magnetically held supercutaneously with a case being separable into first and second parts and being releasably secured together. The case contains a magnetic device for magnetically holding the case in a supercutaneous position with the magnetic field strength at the surface of the case adjacent to the supercutaneous position being adjustable. The magnetic device may also be adjustable in magnetic polarity. The externally worn body device may contain a transmitting coil positioned within the case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception. The externally worn body device may be combined with an implanted subcutaneous member which contains a magnetic device for providing an appropriate magnetic attraction to the corresponding supercutaneous magnetic device. The subcutaneous member may contain a receiving coil designed to cooperate with the transmitting coil of the externally worn body device for the reception of the transcutaneous electrical signals.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An externally worn body device adapted to be magnetically held in a supercutaneous position in lateral alignment with a subcutaneous first magnetic element, comprising: a case being separable into a first part and a second part;   securing means operably coupled to said case for releasably securing said first part and said second part of said case together; and   a second magnetic element contained within said case when said first part and said second part of said case are secured together, said second magnetic element holding said externally worn body device in a supercutaneous position proximate to said subcutaneous first magnetic element, holding said externally worn body device in lateral alignment with said subcutaneous first magnetic element, being axially aligned with said subcutaneous first magnetic element and providing a direct axial magnetic attraction to said subcutaneous first magnetic element; and   said second magnetic element being adjustable in magnetic field strength at a surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position for changing the magnetic field strength attraction between said second magnetic element and said subcutaneous first magnetic element.   
     
     
       2. An externally worn body device as in claim 1 wherein said second magnetic element is also reversible in magnetic polarity. 
     
     
       3. An externally worn body device as in claim 2 which further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception. 
     
     
       4. An externally worn body device as in claim 1 wherein said second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetic module which may be replaced as an adjustment in magnetic field strength is required. 
     
     
       5. An externally worn body device as in claim 1 wherein said case, when said first part and said second part are secured together, has a cavity for holding said second magnetic element, wherein said second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetic module, and wherein said externally worn body device further comprises at least one spacer positioned within said cavity between said magnetic module and said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position. 
     
     
       6. An externally worn body device as in claim 5 which further comprises a resilient insert positioned within said cavity disposed with respect to said magnetic module opposite from said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position. 
     
     
       7. An externally worn body device as in claim 6 which further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception. 
     
     
       8. An externally worn body device as in claim 7 wherein said transmitting means comprises an electrically conductive coil having a hollow core. 
     
     
       9. An externally worn body device as in claim 8 wherein said cavity is formed by said hollow core of said electrically conductive core. 
     
     
       10. An externally worn body device as in claim 5 wherein said magnetic module is a rare earth magnet. 
     
     
       11. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus, comprising: a first member adapted to be positioned subcutaneously;   a first magnetic means positioned within said first member for providing an appropriate magnetic attraction to a corresponding supercutaneous magnetic member;   a second member positioned supercutaneously;   said second member having a case being separable into a first part and a second part, securing means operably coupled to said case for releasably securing said first part and said second part of said case together;   a second magnetic element contained within said case when first part and said second part of said case are secured together, said second magnetic element holding said second member in a supercutaneous position proximate to said first member, holding said second member in lateral alignment with said first magnetic means, being axially aligned with said first magnetic means and providing direct axial magnetic attraction to said first magnetic means; and   said second magnetic element being adjustable and magnetic field strength at a surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position for changing the magnetic field strength attraction between said second magnetic element and said first magnetic means.   
     
     
       12. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said second magnetic element is also reversible in magnetic polarity. 
     
     
       13. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 12 in which said second member further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception and in which said first member further comprises receiving means positioned within said first member for receiving said electrical signal. 
     
     
       14. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said second magnetic means comprises at least one permanent magnetic module which may be replaced as an adjustment in magnetic field strength is required. 
     
     
       15. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said case, when said first part and said second part are secured together, has a cavity for holding said second magnetic element, wherein said second magnetic element comprises at least one permanent magnetic module, and wherein said second member further comprises at least one spacer positioned within said cavity between said magnetic module and said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position. 
     
     
       16. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said second member further comprises a resilient insert positioned within said cavity disposed with respect to said magnetic module opposite from said surface of said case adjacent said supercutaneous position. 
     
     
       17. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 16 in which said second member further comprises transmitting means positioned within said case for transmitting an electrical signal intended for transcutaneous reception and in which said first member further comprises receiving means positioned within said first member for receiving said electrical signal. 
     
     
       18. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said transmitting means comprises an electrically conductive coil having a hollow core. 
     
     
       19. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said cavity is formed by said hollow core of said electrically conductive core. 
     
     
       20. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said magnetic module is a rare earth magnet.